Wu Lan

Historical Record

In the official histories, Wu Lan was a general of Shu Han. According to the "Biography of the First Lord" in the Records of the Three Kingdoms, in the 23rd year of the Jian'an era (218 CE), Liu Bei personally led his generals in an advance into Hanzhong, where a fierce contest unfolded against Cao Cao's army. In this campaign, Liu Bei detached the generals Wu Lan, Lei Tong, and others to enter Wudu Commandery. Unfortunately, however, the forces led by Wu Lan and Lei Tong were ultimately defeated and captured by Cao Cao's army^[1]. The histories provide no further detail on the specifics of Wu Lan's combat operations in Wudu, his troop dispositions, or the circumstances of his eventual capture. Apart from this brief appearance in the Hanzhong Campaign, no other record of his life survives. As a member of Liu Bei's faction, he played a significant role in the Hanzhong Campaign, but his end came with his being lost to Cao's army—something that to a degree reflects the complexity and cruelty of the fighting in Hanzhong at that time.

In the Novel

In Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Wu Lan's image is given more literary color and narrative, and the number of his appearances and the campaigns he takes part in far exceed the historical record. He first appears as a general of Liu Zhang's faction, garrisoning Luocheng together with Wu Yi, Lei Tong, and others. When Liu Bei attacked Luocheng, Wu Lan took part in the defense. In Chapter 62, Wu Yi adopts Leng Bao's scheme, planning to break the waters of the Fu River to flood Liu Bei's army, with Wu Lan and Lei Tong ordered to lead troops to support Leng Bao^[2]. However, this scheme was seen through by Wei Yan, and Leng Bao was captured alive. Afterward, while supporting Leng Bao, Wu Lan and Lei Tong again encountered Huang Zhong's forces and failed. In Chapter 64, Wu Lan and Lei Tong once more clashed with Huang Zhong and Wei Yan, forming a pincer attack alongside Wu Yi and Liu Gui. But with the support of Liu Bei and Zhang Fei, Wu Lan and Lei Tong were finally outmatched and chose to surrender to Liu Bei^[3].

After surrendering to Liu Bei, Wu Lan went on to serve Liu Bei's faction. In Chapter 69, he followed Ma Chao in garrisoning Xiabian and was appointed vanguard by Ma Chao. In battle against Cao Hong's forces, Wu Lan's subordinate officer Ren Kui ignored his advice and rashly went out to fight, only to be slain by Cao Hong. Wu Lan thus returned in defeat and was rebuked by Ma Chao, who ordered him to hold the pass strictly and not to underestimate the enemy^[4]. In the novel, Wu Lan—from a subordinate of Liu Zhang to a subordinate of Liu Bei—has a more winding course, which also displays his conduct and character traits on the battlefield, though these episodes are largely the novelist's invention and unattested in history.

Key Relationships

* Liu Zhang's faction (serves): In the early part of Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Wu Lan is a general under Liu Zhang, resisting Liu Bei's attack together with Wu Yi, Lei Tong, and others. He took part in defending Luocheng and obeyed Wu Yi's dispositions, attempting to block Liu Bei's army through a flooding scheme^[2].
* Liu Bei's faction (serves): In Romance of the Three Kingdoms, after fighting against Liu Bei and Zhang Fei, Wu Lan and Lei Tong finally chose to surrender to Liu Bei and became members of Liu Bei's faction^[3]. In history, Wu Lan took part directly in the Hanzhong Campaign as a general of Liu Bei^[1].
* Ma Chao (serves) (novel only): In Romance of the Three Kingdoms, after surrendering to Liu Bei, Wu Lan followed Ma Chao in garrisoning Xiabian and served as vanguard, obeying Ma Chao's orders^[4].
* Lei Tong (colleague): In both history and the novel, Wu Lan appears together with Lei Tong, jointly carrying out military missions as a comrade fighting at his side^[1].

Signature Scenes

* Defeat at Wudu (historical): In the 23rd year of Jian'an, Liu Bei detached Wu Lan, Lei Tong, and other generals to enter Wudu, but they were ultimately defeated and captured by Cao Cao's army. This is the only military action and outcome clearly recorded for Wu Lan in the official histories^[1].
* The Luocheng flooding scheme (novel only): In Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Wu Lan, as a subordinate of Liu Zhang, was ordered together with Lei Tong to support Leng Bao, attempting to flood Liu Bei's army by breaking the waters of the Fu River. Although the scheme ultimately failed, it shows Wu Lan's role within Liu Zhang's camp^[2].
* Surrender to Liu Bei (novel only): In Romance of the Three Kingdoms, in fighting against Huang Zhong, Wei Yan, Liu Bei, and Zhang Fei, Wu Lan and Lei Tong were outmatched and finally chose to surrender to Liu Bei, thereby changing their allegiance^[3].
* Vanguard defeat at Xiabian (novel only): After surrendering to Liu Bei, Wu Lan served as vanguard under Ma Chao, and in fighting Cao Hong at Xiabian he was defeated because his subordinate officer Ren Kui underestimated the enemy, for which he was rebuked by Ma Chao. This scene depicts Wu Lan's battlefield conduct and his relationship with his superior^[4].
* A line of dialogue (novel only): In Chapter 69 of Romance of the Three Kingdoms, when Ma Chao rebuked Wu Lan for underestimating the enemy and causing the defeat, Wu Lan had one line: "Ren Kui would not heed my words, and so this defeat came about."^[4] This brief line explains the cause of the defeat and also indirectly reflects Wu Lan's character, attempting to shift the blame onto others.